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Is economic inequality rising?

Patrick Gleeson Civil & Government

Economic inequality is a popular media topic but it’s hard to get objective information about it. Is it increasing or not — and if it is, is that good or bad? In our politically polarized environment, many business writers and economists bring their own perspectives to these topics, with results that depend less on data than on political/social orientation.

What your association must know about board decorum

Robert C. Harris Association Management

When directors join a board, they expect to receive and read the governing documents. The bylaws, policies and articles of incorporation outline board authority and limitations. But what about board decorum? Decorum is the behavior of directors considered to be correct, polite, and respectable. There are director expectations not written in the governing documents. They are described in a page titled "board decorum," "ground rules" or "cultural expectations."

How do business groups view the Green New Deal?

Seth Sandronsky Civil & Government

The Green New Deal (GND), a resolution in both houses of Congress, arrived on Feb. 7, thanks to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.). The GND "would create millions of good, high-wage jobs in the United States, provide unprecedented levels of prosperity and economic security for Americans, and counteract systemic injustices — all while addressing the existential challenge of climate change," Sen. Markey said in a prepared statement. What about the ways business groups view the costs and benefits of the bill?

Why every organization needs a salary structure: A simple step in the right…

Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk Management

While the causes of fair pay issues vary, implementing a salary structure is a simple step that can help any organization prevent and address a number of problems. In its simplest form, a salary structure is a written plan that reflects all the positions within an organization with their corresponding salary range In part two of this article series, we will review what a salary structure is and how it can be a simple step in the right direction for any size organization.

Help your employees use their smartphones more productively

Lisa Mulcahy Business Management, Services & Risk Management

A smartphone can be an incredibly helpful tool in helping your employees get their work done better and faster in many ways. Or...not so much. As a manager, you want to encourage your workers to engage with their technology in ways that benefit their productivity and avoid becoming distracted by their devices in ways that can affect your bottom line. So how do you do this? Use these science-tested tips to encourage great results.

How to steal talent without going to jail

Roberta Matuson Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Companies are pulling up stakes and moving their headquarters to major metropolitan locations. I can assure you, they are not doing this for the view. They are coming for talent. Amazon's recent search for H2 is a perfect example of this. Many companies sighed in relief when the news broke that Amazon had chosen a location that was nowhere close to their headquarters. This relief is only temporary. Many companies are desperate for talent and will do just about anything. Here's my advice on how to steal talent without going to jail.

3 steps to monetizing your data through customer intelligence

Andrew Wells and Kathy Chiang Marketing

How intelligent is your company about your customer? Do you know enough about them in order to create a personalized customer experience? Understanding your customer through deep intelligence enables you to drive the right actions and experiences that can make the difference in your ability to compete in the marketplace and win with the customer. In today’s world, competing on price alone cannot win at checkout. To achieve a better yield on your marketing spend, we recommend creating customer intelligence analytical solutions that provide your company with a variety of ways to monetize your customer. Here is a three-step approach to building a customer intelligence analytical solution.

Flu season could cost employers $17.5 billion

Terri Williams Business Management, Services & Risk Management

In the second week of January, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that between 6 and 7 million people were already sick with the flu, and between 69,000 and 84,000 people had been hospitalized. While flu activity tends to peak between December and February, the CDC notes that activity can last through May. The news comes as no surprise to executive coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, which predicts that this flu season could cost employers $17 billion in lost productivity.

How you can become a more effective listener

Hank Boyer Business Management, Services & Risk Management

For most people, being listened to equals respect. It's true across cultures and true over time. True in your personal life as well as your professional one. And it is a best practice of people who want to be successful, regardless of who they are, what they do, or and how old they are. Hearing is an act of the brain registering a sound. Listening gives the sound meaning and considers an appropriate response. Active listening requires intentionality on the part of the listener. It enables the listener to extract critical content from what is being said.

Who blinked? Business lessons from the recent government shutdown

Linda Popky Business Management, Services & Risk Management

On Jan. 25, the nearly five-week partial government shutdown was resolved when President Trump and Congress agreed to reopen the government — at least for the following three weeks — in spite of leaving the issue of border security still open. It was Winston Churchill who first said, "Never let a good crisis go to waste." As government employees return to work and most daily functions return to normal, what can we as business people learn from this debacle and take back to our own organizations?

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